INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The United States has been chosen as the host country for the Club World Cup in 2025
This will be the first time that the FIFA tournament features 32 teams, representing a significant expansion from the current format
The announcement was made during an online meeting of the FIFA Council on Friday.The expanded tournament lineup will include prominent clubs
such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Chelsea, who have already secured their places as recent Champions League winners
The Club World Cup in 2025 will serve as a crucial testing ground for stadiums and operations, providing valuable insights and preparations
one year ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.FIFA
commended the United States for its proven track record in organising global sporting events, highlighting the potential for synergies with
the delivery of the 2026 World Cup
This decision presents an excellent opportunity for FIFA to maximise commercial and operational efficiencies.Among the participating teams
will be the Seattle Sounders, who earned their spot in the Club World Cup as the 2022 champion of the North American soccer region, CONCACAF
Additionally, the United States, as the host nation, is expected to receive another entry, further boosting the nation's representation in
the tournament.For fans, the expanded club tournament will offer a rare and exciting opportunity to witness competitive matches featuring 12
storied European clubs on American soil
While European and South American clubs currently dominate the competition, with each continent having seven and six entries respectively,
the new qualification system aims to provide broader appeal and a more inclusive representation across other regions.The specific format for
the Club World Cup in 2025 is yet to be finalised, but one proposal suggests guaranteeing each of the 32 teams at least three matches by
organising them into eight groups of four
The winners of each group would then advance to the quarterfinals, culminating in an intense knockout stage
This format would result in a total of 56 matches if a third-place play-off game were included.The existing Club World Cup format, featuring
seven teams representing continental champions, will continue with its final edition scheduled for December in Saudi Arabia
The revised Club World Cup in 2025 presents a tremendous commercial opportunity for FIFA to explore new broadcasting models, secure new
sponsors, and provide substantial prize money to participating clubs, potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.The European
Club Association, an influential body representing top European clubs, expressed its hope for productive discussions with FIFA regarding the
management of commercial rights surrounding the Club World Cup.FIFA's plans to revive and expand the Club World Cup have been long in the
making, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasising its importance since his election in 2016
Previous attempts to launch the tournament faced obstacles, including a controversial $25 billion deal with Japanese technology investor
SoftBank, which drew criticism from European football officials.After the collapse of the Super League project in April 2021, FIFA renewed
its efforts to revamp the Club World Cup
The tournament's launch, initially planned for June 2021 in China, was cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
However, FIFA remains committed to introducing the expanded Club World Cup in 2025, heralding a new era for global club football.Alongside
Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Chelsea, several other teams have already qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup, including Palmeiras and
Flamengo from Brazil, Monterrey and Leon from Mexico, Al-Ahly from Egypt, Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan, and
Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia
The stage is set for a fiercely competitive and globally acclaimed tournament, where the world's best clubs will battle for supremacy on
American soil.(With inputs from AP)
